Most voters in 98 of Illinois’ 102 counties thought Republican Bill Brady should have been governor four years ago.

He lost to Gov. Pat Quinn by fewer than 32,000 votes — less than a percentage point. Would Illinois look different if Brady had picked up a few more votes?

We think so. And we think Brady deserves a second chance to run for governor on the Republican ticket. He is endorsed in a strong field of contenders in the March 18 primary.

Brady could have won if he had campaigned more aggressively. Instead, he allowed the opposition to define him as further to the right than most Illinoisans are comfortable with. Brady makes no apologies for his social views and says he will counter any attacks during this campaign.

Brady rightly concentrated on economic issues during the last campaign and will again this year. Illinois has the third-worst unemployment rate in the nation, the worst pension liability and is unable to pay its bills in a timely manner. Those are the issues that matter.

As a state senator, Brady voted for pension reform, distinguishing himself from colleague and fellow GOP gubernatorial hopeful Kirk Dillard. Brady acknowledges that the pension reform bill was not perfect and pledges to use the savings to cut taxes.

He also wants to dismantle the State Board of Education and put education under the governor’s office to increase accountability. That’s ambitious, but if Illinois schools are going to improve, there needs to be a shake-up.

Brady, who has been a state senator since 2003 and served in the Illinois House from 1993 to 2000, would implement a 35-year capital improvement plan, which is the kind of long-term thinking Illinois has lacked.

Dillard has the support of local Republicans, such as Sen. Dave Syverson of Rockford and Rep. John Cabello of Machesney Park, and earned our endorsement in the GOP primary four years ago. He has been endorsed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, the Illinois Education Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

Dillard’s opponents have been critical of the union support. However, he’ll need to work with those unions if he wins and to have any chance of turning the state around. Union support is a good sign for him and a good sign for Republicans should Dillard win the primary and face Quinn in the general election.

Treasurer Dan Rutherford is a strong candidate whose campaign has been hampered by allegations of sexual harassment levied by a former employee in the Treasury Department.

Rutherford has shown that he can get results. He stepped in to help keep an Illinois trucking company from moving to Iowa when other state offices failed to get involved. That was not something you’d expect a state treasurer to do, but his involvement kept the company and the jobs on this side of the state line. That kind of personal commitment would be welcome in the Governor’s Mansion.

Page 2 of 2 - Venture capitalist Bruce Rauner is considered the front-runner, based on polls. He is by far the wealthiest of the candidates and has spent $6 million of his own money on the campaign.

Rauner proudly proclaims that he’s a businessman, not a politician. “I do not fail,” he told the Editorial Board in February.

Rauner’s talent as a businessman and his record of civic engagement are impressive, but his lack of political experience could hamper his ability to work with the entrenched political powers in Springfield.

Illinois politics are complex and the person picked to lead the state needs to have the right mix of bold ideas and political experience. We think Bill Brady is that person and we encourage Republicans to vote for him March 18.